The Professor's Conundrum...

Arsene Wenger has come under lots of criticism recently,
 for his side's long trophy-drought

           Arsene Wenger is possibly the most distinguished manager in Arsenal Football Club's history.And in recent times, probably the most ridiculed one, too.Six years without a trophy, and the patience seems to be growing thin among the Gunners' faithful.Another year like this, and Arsenal's new owners may have to take action.But is Arsenal's crisis as simple to solve as most of us think it to be?
         All the pundits make it so obvious, just get a decent goal-keeper, add one or two world-class defenders, with one great goalscorer to boot, and everything will be fine.Too easy? Well, it's not. One of the biggest problem Arsenal face is the lack of attraction surrounding the Emirates for the superstars. Even the emerging footballers, no longer treat Arsenal FC as their destination, but a springboard to move on to bigger things. Add that to Wenger's refusal to splash the cash, and it becomes mere fantasy to hope for a Carlos Puyol or a Gianluigi Buffon at Arsenal.

Both Fabregas and Nasri seem keen to leave the club

             But, is that the sole reason Arsenal find themselves in a dark hole like this? You'd think so, but it's far from reality. It's not that the current Arsenal squad is not good enough to even better Manchester City's points total in a League season or to beat Birmingham in a Carling Cup final.But, Arsenal will find it almost impossible to end their drought, till they find the players who are proud to play for the club. Francesc Fabregas's transfer saga, continuing for third season running now is surely not helping, nor is Samir Nasri's rrefusal to sign an extension.They want to move on to bigger things, to win trophies, they claim. But, they easily choose to forget, they were the ones entrusted with that responsibility by Arsene Wenger.Lack of ambition in transfer market is also put forward as a reason for their unhappiness, but this supposed lack of money-spending was the reason Fabregas and Nasri got their chances to become the stars they are today.Surely no one believes Cesc Fabregas would be considered the phenomenon he is today, had he stayed at Barcelona from that start, always under the shadows of Xavi and Iniesta? Would Samir Nasri get the chances he got Arsenal, had he chosen Real Madrid or Chelsea at the beginning? That's something to ponder upon.

Arsenal are no more the force to reckon with, in European Football

                   If Arsene Wenger is to have any hope of turning things around, he must get rid of those unhappy souls.You're never going to appear confident to be champions, if your Club captain continues to cry for a transfer.The difference between Arsenal's successful duo of Robert Pires and Freddie Ljungberg and that of today's generation in Nasri and Fabregas is not the huge gap in talent and potential, but the desire, the pride to play for Arsenal Football Club.Wenger must hone that breed of players again, if he wants Arsenal to return to their glory days.He has shown that he understands the more obvious problems surrounding the club.A decent keeper in Szczesny has finally been found, the signings of Sebastien Squillaci and Konscielny may have not been most successful, but they indicate the Gunners' managers desire to address the issue.Gervinho's signing is another attempt to provide a good partner for Van Persie.But Wenger has to act on the more serious issues.Now.


                Paul Scholes recently suggested Arsneal's beautiful game was good for nothing. He claimed his manager would never allow the club to go trophy-less for six years.And he is right, his manager or in fact any other top manager won't allow that to happen,rather wouldn't be allowed to let that happen.Chelsea under Mourinho were known to sit on the 1-0 leads for the sake of their lives.Liverpool were accused by someone like Sam Allardyce of playing the long-balls game.Ironically, Wenger's predecessor George Graham's Arsenal team was infamous for the boring football Wenger detests. "One-nil to Arsneal" used to be the favourite chant at Highbury. Manchester United have built their dynasty for the last 2 decades, not by the exhibition of perfect football, but by grinding out innumerable wins against the minnows.That consistency is what Arsenal sorely lack.But what I still find admirable is Arsene Wenger's refusal to desert his principles.Football is not only about winning, he claims.The entertainment for the fans who pay their money to watch the game is of foremost importance to him.In a world of players and managers who would get to any resort for winning, Wenger shines like a beacon for me.May be, just may be, Arsenal are the gutless team, who can't stand up to their more physical opponents.But ask yourself honestly, wouldn't you prefer your team to play slickly like them sometimes, when you saw your team grinding out wins to win the titles.Yeah, it's almost depressing to watch them falter against Stoke and Wigan.But isn't that worth the awesome performances they produce versus the Chelseas and the Manchester Uniteds, for any football fan?
           Even with his failing principles, "The Professor" as he is called, Wenger makes this footballing world a better place for all of us.Just for that sake, I hope Arsene Wenger stays on.And for once, I think most of the footballing world will agree with me.